Preface

The Swaroop Sampradaya[1] has the principle by which the Preceptor takes birth to become the disciple of his own disciple in order to continue the tradition of apostles of the Swaroop Sampradaya.

In keeping with this tradition, Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj (incarnation of Lord Dattatreya) took birth in the form of Shree Baba Maharaj who became the disciple of Shree Beedkar Maharaj and later the apostle of the Swaroop Sampradaya[1] Shree Baba Maharaj was also known as Shree Raosaheb Sahasrabuddhe alias Shri Vasudevanant Saraswati Maharaj.

He was born to the most devout and deeply religious couple Shri Narayanrao and Laxmibai of the Sahasrabuddhe family on November 14, 1883 at Hubli in Karnataka State, Southern India and was named Ramchandra. He pursued his studies in Engineering (L.C.E.) & completed it in 1904. He joined Public Works Department in 1909. In 1906, Shree Beedkar Maharaj blessed him by placing his hand on his head and said ‘Raosaheb I have made you permanent‘;. With these words, Shree Beedkar Maharaj blessed him by bestowing on him the ultimate self-realization with the help of Shaktipat[2]. Since then, Shree Baba Maharaj always remained in a Videhi[3] state.

He worked with the Public Works Department (Govt. of India) as Assistant Engineer and was posted at various places like Ratnagiri, Pen, Mahad, Panvel, and Nagothane, all in Maharashtra State (Western India). In 1923, he was appointed as P. A. to the Chief Architect of Mumbai. During this period, his knowledge of Engineering Science and his general intelligence was well acknowledged by his British superiors.

Shree Baba Maharaj married when insisted by Shree Beedkar Maharaj but it did not bring any change in his way of life. He was so much engrossed in meditation, that on one payday he dropped his entire pay packet in the hands of a beggar, standing outside his office and returned home penniless. Sometimes his wife could not cook food because she had no money to buy firewood.

Finally in 1928, he took invalid pension and retired. He came to Pune and stayed at Dhumal building in Narayan Peth Area in the vicinity of the Muth[4] established by his preceptor Shree Beedkar Maharaj.

He attended the Muth4 thrice during a day for Darshan (to pay his respects to his Preceptor). He made himself free even from traces of ego to such an extent that he viewed the universe as manifestation of his Sadguru. He prostrated before everybody who even slightly reminded him of his revered Sadguru, may it be a kitten or someone else. His meditation would continue unperturbed in any health condition, even when he had fever as high as 105 0 F. Once he performed the difficult and vigorous tapasya[5] of meditating continuously for 21 days by staring at the Sun with naked eyes from sunrise to sunset.

After the death of his wife in 1945, he started getting his food from outside. Some of his devotees sometimes brought food and snacks for him and many a times that food remained untouched for several days. Then one day he would take a little from it for himself and distribute the rest to his devotees. It was a common experience that this stale food tasted like fresh food.

During this period, several people experienced supernatural powers possessed by Shree Baba Maharaj. With his inner vision Shree Baba Maharaj provided valuable spiritual guidance to many of his devotees and thus helped them in their spiritual pursuit.

Shree Baba Maharaj preached his devotees and his disciples to “Look in the sky. Look at the stars. Meditate for half an hour before having your meals. See whatever appears. See as much as you can and see until the vision lasts“. He always said, “I want to bring Satya Yuga[6] now“.

Great sages like Shree Shankar Maharaj, Shree Meher Baba, Yogi Aurobinda Babu’s Guru Shree Lele Maharaj, and Shree Shivaji Maharaj of Kolhapur, just to name a few, had great respect for Shree Baba Maharaj.

In 1953, Shree Baba Maharaj blessed Shree Vitthalrao Ganesh Joshi who later on came to be known as Shree Sadguru Digambardas Maharaj, with his absolute favour and ordered him to propagate Swaroop Sampradaya.

In 1954, he left his mortal coil and merged with the Nirguna Parabrahma[7]. His last rites were performed on his own plot at Chatushrungi road in Pune, Maharashtra State, Western India. His disciple and apostle of Swaroop Sampradaya[1] Shree Sadguru[8] Digambardas Maharaj later built the “Shree Sadguru Baba Maharaj Sahasrabuddhe Samadhi Mandir[9]” on that land.

Shree Baba Maharaj had promised his disciples and devotees that he would stay in the Samadhi Mandir for 1,000 years for the well being of his disciples and devotees. Even today the devotees experience his divine presence in the premises of the Samadhi Mandir.

[1]Swaroop Sampradaya: A sect, wherein the aspirant concentrates on viewing the ‘Atman’ – the soul

[2]Shaktipat: Ancient method of awakening and activating the Kundalini energy in the shortest possible time. Kundalini energy is the energy dormant at the base of the spine of every human being.